Maps of Music

Nastradamus (1999)

Where the lyrics of Nastradamus take you, and where it was really made.

The album was meant to be built from leftover sessions for I Am..., but bootleg copies of that material pushed its release back a month, so Nas recorded new songs for it.

Key places

Additional recording at Chung King (1999)

Recording site Chung King Studios — Additional recording for the album took place at Chung King Studios in New York City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Track 6 recorded at D&D (1999)

Recording site D&D Studios — Track 6 was recorded at D&D Studios and Manhattan Center Studios in New York City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Track 14 recorded in Miami (1999)

Recording site South Beach (Miami) — Track 14 was recorded at Manhattan Center Studios, The Hit Factory and South Beach, Miami. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Nastradamus: fourth studio album by American rapper Nas
• Released 23 November 1999 by Ill Will and Columbia Records
• Planned as a full album of material from the I Am... sessions, with release set for 26 October
• Credited studios include Soundtrack Studios, Manhattan Center Studios, Chung King Studios, The Hit Factory, Right Track Studios and D&D Studios
• Mixing and mastering were done at The Hit Factory

Background

• The original plan reused material from the sessions for the album I Am...
• Bootlegs of that material led to a one-month delay
• Nas recorded new material for Nastradamus during that delay
• The album was therefore a mix of leftover work and fresh recordings made in response to the leak

Recording

• Tracks were recorded across several New York City studios
• Track 4 and track 10 were recorded at Right Track Studios and Soundtrack Studios
• Track 6 was recorded at D&D Studios and Manhattan Center Studios
• Track 14 was recorded at Manhattan Center Studios, The Hit Factory and South Beach, Miami
• Additional recording took place at Chung King Studios in New York City

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com · pt.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones on September 14, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City; raised in the Queensbridge Houses, Queens.
• Son of jazz and blues musician Olu Dara; began as "Nasty Nas" in 1989 and recorded demos under Large Professor.
• Made his recording debut on Main Source's 1991 song "Live at the Barbeque"; signed with Columbia Records in 1992.

Career

• Debut album Illmatic (April 19, 1994) is regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums; selected for the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.
• It Was Written (1996) debuted atop the Billboard 200; single "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" featuring Lauryn Hill brought mainstream success.
• Feud with Jay-Z (2001–2005) via the diss track "Ether"; Stillmatic and God's Son helped restore his critical standing.
• Released Hip Hop Is Dead (2006) and Distant Relatives (2010) with Damian Marley, whose royalties went to African charities.
• King's Disease (2020) won his first Grammy for Best Rap Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
• Released King's Disease II, Magic, King's Disease III, Magic 2 and Magic 3, all produced by Hit-Boy.
• Announced Light-Years with DJ Premier, a 2025 collaborative album.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Critics gave the album generally mixed reviews
• Some regarded it as Nas's weakest effort
• Despite the mixed reception, it achieved considerable commercial success
• It debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200
• It sold over 232,000 copies in its first week
• It spawned two singles that charted

Reappraisal

• Nas later said a couple of songs on the album have a sound that is unlike anything else he had done
• He described the album as representing a grey area in his life
• He said the material was personal and he preferred not to elaborate on it
• He said he had nothing against the album

Records

• US Billboard 200 debut: number 7
• First-week sales: over 232,000 copies
• Certified Platinum by the RIAA on 22 December 1999
• Two charting singles

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album was first planned to be built entirely from I Am... sessions, with a release date of 26 October.
• Bootlegging of that material led to a one-month postponement while Nas recorded new songs.
• Track 6 contains dialogue samples from the LP "If I Were President" performed by Timmy Rogers.
• Samples in the credits include material from Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns, The Ohio Players, The Stylistics and Toto.
• Nas has described some songs on the record as having a sound unlike his other work, tied to a grey period in his life.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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